“I’ve seen a fracture at our table and a separation that I think needs to be addressed, and move toward more teamwork-based, consensus decision making,” he explains.
Gottfriedsen was unsuccessful in a 2018 run for Kúkpi7, but says the experience he’s gained in this most recent term on council has been invaluable.
“I sat in council and learned as much as I could, and gleaned as many learnings as I could from Kúkpi7 Rosanne and the rest of the Tk̓wenem7íple7 at the table.”
Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc made international headlines in 2021, with the Le Estcwicwéy̓ announcement surrounding the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. It sparked a higher level of discussion around Indigenous reconciliation — particularly around residential school system survivors and intergenerational survivors. Gottfriedsen says TteS’ work with the prime minister’s office needs to keep progressing.
“Bringing forward the opportunity to speak about the 215 (Le Estcwicwéy̓) and get that …